Richmond Motor Club hosted the Gerald Simpson Memorial Trial on Sunday, drawing an impressive field of some 140 riders.
The trial was once again run as one round of the S3 National Championship. Clerk of Course Sam Lambert, and his Assistant Clerk of Course Cristian Russell, laid out a challenging 20-mile route beginning in Carlton.
Riders tackled 40 sections across Coverdale as they made their way through West Scrafton, Horsehouse and Braidley with a time limit of 6 hours and 45 minutes.
The weather held up, with the sun even making a brief appearance. The first few riders to head out onto the course found some of the sections slippery, making for some high scores. Many riders were jumping back on their bikes after riding the Scottish Six Days Trial in Fort William the week prior, clearly keen to get back on a bike even after a tough week of challenging sections in the Highlands.
On the Hard Course, a few too many 5s dropped Dan Thorpe (GASGAS) into second place on 19 marks lost, with Sam Haslam (GASGAS) just behind him in third place on 22 marks. Last year’s winner Richard Sadler (Vertigo) clinched the win once again, with only one 5 throughout the day and a few slack dabs scattered amongst a respectable amount of cleans, losing just 12 marks overall.
On the Clubman Course, Stephen Dixon (Scorpa) led the way overall losing just 11 marks. Tom Fraser (Vertigo) came in second on 17 marks, narrowly followed by Richard Gaskell (Beta) on 18 marks lost.
Seven female riders competed in the event, with Chloe Richardson (Beta) taking the win in the Clubman Women’s Class on 47 marks lost, followed by Katy Sunter-Thorpe (GASGAS) and Holly Dixon (Beta) on 57 and 91 marks respectively.
Richmond Motor Club would like to thank the Clerk of Course and his helpers, Secretary, landowners, observers, media, caterers and everyone else involved in the running of the trial. Thank you to the riders for entering and taking part. The Club looks forward to returning to Coverdale this weekend (23rd & 24th May) for the annual Blue Bar 2 Day Trophy Trial.
Results:
Hard Course: 1. Richard Sadler (Vertigo) 12; 2. Dan Thorpe (GASGAS) 19; 3. Sam Haslam (GASGAS) 22
Clubman Course: 1. Tom Fraser (Vertigo) 17; 2. Ryan Dalton (Beta) 20; 3. Alistair Dalton (Beta) 25
Clubman Over 40s: 1. Stephen Dixon (Scorpa) 11; 2. Richard Gaskell (Beta) 18; 3. Philip Wiffen (TRRS) 29
Clubman Women’s: 1. Chloe Richardson (Beta) 47; 2. Katy Sunter-Thorpe (GASGAS) 57; 3. Holly Dixon (Beta) 91
